Wringer mechanism



Aug. 16, 1938. ETTEN ET L WRINGER MECHANISM Original Filed March 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 16, 1938. N. L. ETTEN ET AL WRINGER MECHANI SM Original Filed March 19, 1952 v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRINGER MECHANISM Application March 19, 1932, Serial No. 600,022 Renewed June 24, 1937 13 Claims.

This invention relates to wringer mechanism.

One of the objects of the invention is in the provision of a manually operated safety mechanism for relieving the tension between the roll members of a clothes wringer, said mechanism being adapted to operate instantly, irrespective of the manner in which it is moved.

Another object lies in the provision of safety release mechanism for the roll members of a clothes wringer, said wringer being adapted to be manually operated to relieve tension whether moved laterally or downwardly by the operator.

'Still another object lies in the provision of a wringer mechanism comprising a lower frame adapted to receive the wringer roll members, an upper frame detachably connected to the lower frame, said upper frame carrying the pressure applying means between the rolls, and a safety release mechanism normally holding the upper frame and lower frame in an operative position, said safety release mechanism including a manually operated latch mechanism capable of release by the operator, irrespective of the manner of movement thereof by the operator.

A further object lies in the provision of a safety release mechanism for controlling the release of tension between the rolls ofa wringer, said safety release mechanism including latch mechanism so arranged as to be capable of release, irrespective of the mannerv of direction of release by .the operator.

A still further object lies in the provision of a wringer mechanism comprising a lower frame adapted to recgive the conventional wringer rolls, an upper frame capable'of detachable relation ship with the lower frame, tension applying means for the roll, a safety release mechanism for relieving the tension between the rolls, and means for preventing complete removal of the upper frame from the lower comprising hanger members connected to the upper frame and having a sliding connection with the lower frame.

Other objects will appear in the following specification, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan View of the wringer;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevational view;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken on'the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing of the manually operated tension release member;

Fig. '7 is a'plan view showing the universal pivot of the safety release mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view showing in section various portions of the wringer;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 5 of Fig. 8; a

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line II-ll of Fig. 8.

Before referring specifically to the drawings,

- for a detail description and disclosure of applicants wringer, it might be well to explain generally the main features of the wringer in view of the prior art and the general class of wringer 15 devices now appearing on the market.

Wringers have become standard to the extent that they comprise a .frame mechanism, dual wringer rolls disposed either in a horizontal or vertical position, means for applying tension between the rolls and finallyand essentially, some means for efiecting an instant release of the tension in case of accident. It is this safety feature to which the present invention is directed.

The prior art is replete with safety devices for releasing tension between the rolls. Efforts directed'from many angles have been made to provide a manually operated release member which was not only in a position to be readily struck by the operator but one which operated easily and instantly. Various individuals have disposed their release members upon practically every side or surface of the wringer; however, in every instance, these release members have required manual operation by the operator.

Applicant herein has disposed his release mechanism upon the upper frame of the wringer in a position to be readily struck by the operator. Generally, as far as the mounting is concerned, it is conventional, with the exception that there 40 has been taken into consideration the fact that in case of accident the operator being in a highly nervous and frightened condition, is not mentally in a 'state of mind to act normally. In other words, these safety release members require a certain directional movement to accomplish the release of tension between the rolls.

Ordinarily, the practice is to force a lever in a lateral manner. Other release mechanisms require a downward striking of the safety release. 5 In the present instance, applicant has provided not only an instantly releasa'blelatch mechanism but, of more importance, one that when struck from any direction or in any manner, will instantly relieve the tension between the rolls.

on the It is believed that this mounting of the manually operated safety release mechanism in a'universal manner marks an important development and step forward when safety release mechanism for the conventional type of wringer is concerned.

- receive the projecting ends of the shafts l5 and it upon which the rubber roll portions l1 and I8 respectively are mounted.

So far merely conventional wringer construction has been described. The detachable upper frame of the wringer is also conventional in general formation, in that it comprises 'a stamped portion or upper frame l9, which is adapted to fit or nest at either end upon the upper ends of the uprights II and I2.

Laterally projecting pairs of ears 20 and,2l upon the uprights Ii and I2 define the relative position of the upper frame I! with respect to the uprights. The upper frame carries a conven- -tional horizontal roll tensioning spring 22, the

position and tension of which is in turn controlled by a tensioning screw 23 having a clamp 24 at ltslower end carrying the spring 22. The -member 23 has a threaded relation 25 with the frame and is operated by means of a conventional manually operated portion 23.

The manner of attaching the/ upper frame to the'lower -frame upon one side includes the outwardly turned lip 21, which is struck from the upper end of the upright l2 and an overlapping, similarly shaped member 23, which is struck from the outer end of the frame i3.

It is apparent that the above described members merely comprise a .simple detachable connection between one end of the frame is and the upright l2. The construction is entirely conventional.

The upper and lower wooden bearing blocks l3 and I4 are, as previously described, slidably contained in the vertical uprights l2. The upper and lower bearings upon the opposed side are likewise slidably contained in the upright l I. However, the opposite side of the frame l9, although removable to a certain degree from the upright ll, nevertheless is connected thereto in the-following manner, A bolt 29 passes laterally through the upper frame l9. As shown in the drawings, this comprises a screw member having a threaded nut 30 upon its opposite end. Obviously, this bolt is a hanger member and might be connected to the frame in any manner desired.

Loosely hung, as at 3|, upon this screw 23 are dual hanger members 32 and 33, which pass downwardly within the upright II and both have the longitudinal slotted portions 34. Dual lugs,

35, fixedly secured to the sides of the upright ll have portions 33 projecting into the before mentioned slots 34 in such manner that the members 32 and 33 are slidably carried upon these lugs, with the result that the, frame I3 is permitted vertical displacement with respect to the frame at this end, a distance which is defined by the length of the slots 34. However, absolute detachment of the upper frame with respect to the lower frame on this side is prevented. Such attachment of the upper frame with the lower frame is provided in order to prevent the complete removal of the upper frame with respect to the lower combined with the pin and slot connection between the hangers and the frame, allows the hangers to partake of a limited pivotal movement as an incident to the upward movement of the head i9. Clearly, as the head l9 moves, the hangers 32 and 33 will have to partake of a limited swinging movement of the adjacent uprights and this is allowed by the more or less free connection of the hangers not only to the frame but to the head.

Now, with respect to the safety mechanism or quick detachable mounting of the upper frame l9'with respect to the U-shaped wringer roll receiving frame of the wringer, a stamped metal bracket 40 has itsbifurcated end portions 4| and 42 apertured in a manner to engage the screw 29 which, as previously described, carries the hanger portions 32 and 33. This bracket is further riveted in the dual manner, as shown at 43, to the end of the frame l9. It also provides bearing support for a laterally disposed rod or bar 44 which in turn carries the roller member 45.

As will be seen, perhaps most clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, a portion of the end of the frame is is cut away as at 46 to permit slight projection of the roller 45. In other words, the

- roller projects through the aperture 46 and defines the normal curve between the top of the frame l9 and the downwardly projecting end 41 thereof.

A latch portion-48 has the dual ear portions 49 overlapping the upright II and being pivotally connected thereto in the dual manner shown at 50. This latch is curved as at 5| to conform with the curve of the roller which it immediately overlies when in a normal position. An upwardly projecting rounded engagement lug is shown at 52.

The opposed latch portion, and it might be said the manually operated release member, comprises the following parts. A lug engaging latch member 53 has formed as an integral part therewith a manually operated safety release handle or member.

The latch and release portion 54 has a novel connection with the frame. In the first place, the intermediate portion 55 of the release mechanism is so fashioned as to receive a laterally disposed upper end portion 56 of a downwardly projecting pivot 51, which portions complete the connection between the release member and the frame l9. The laterally projecting pin or member 56 holds the safety release member 54 in a frictional manner againstthe frame l9; however, the portion 55 which surrounds the pivot 51 is apertured sufiiciently to permit movement of the release member in a vertical manner, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

It will be noted that the release member 54 is normally held in an upward and tensioned position by means of the flat tension spring 58,

which abuts the under side of the member 54 at one end, said spring being carried at its opposite end 59 upon the pivot 51 and in a position between the release member and the frame. It will be noted further that the safety release member is not only permitted an upward and downward movement, but also, due to the pivoting relation of the release upon the frame I9, it

is permitted a lateral movement in either direction, as perhaps most clearly shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The before mentioned opposed latch portion 53 is slightly rounded or cam fashioned to permit ready engagement with the vertical projected rounded lug 52 when the release member is secured by lateral movement: It is thought apparent, however, that the final connection between the frame IQ and upright H is accomplished by either connecting the latch 53 to the lug 52 by a vertical method of connection, or by a lateral method of connection, as is desired. In

other words, the safety release member 54 has a universal mounting with respect to the frame I9 and is capable of latch connection with the opposed latch portion either by vertical depression of the member 54 and subsequent downward movement to an engaged position or by lateral movement of the member 54 to a position where the latch 53 engages the rounded vertical lug 52.

It will be noted that the roller has been placed immediately beneath the latch 5| in such manner that there will be no frictional resistance to the movement of the latch 5| towards the opposed latch portion. The latch connection might well be made without this roller portion, although it is believed apparent that by using this antifriction roller the movement of the portion 5| to a latched position is assisted materially by this mechanism.

Now, with respect to the operation of appli-. cants mechanism, in the first place, the wringer generally is constructed along conventional lines and it is apparent that the novel features of applicants wringer reside in the manner of latching the frame with respect to the upright The opposite end of the frame I9 is connected to the upright |2in the conventional manner and when it is desired that the other end of the frame l9 be connected to the .upright it is apparent that the operator has the option of latching the relative portions either by a vertical or a lateral movement;

As far as release mechanisms are normally concerned, it is believed that in every instance it will be found that a single direction of movement of the latching mechanism is' required. The latching of the relative portions is materially assisted by the use'of the roller, which defines the curve between the end and top of the wringer,

frame.

The more important feature of this release mechanism resides in the release portion. Since the latch or retaining member 5| engages the roller 45 at a point which is offset to the=left. in Figure 8, from the line of force holding the frames together and extending through the axis of the pivot 50 and-the roller-.45, the retaining member 5| is unstable or unbalanced and is biased toward a release position. Were it not for the second retaining member 53, the first latch would release, but the member 53 retains the latter in holding position. The wringer normally is adapted to be maintained in a tensioned position and in a latched position; however, in case the operator unfortunately has his or her fingers caught between the rolls in the act of feeding the wet clothes therethrough, it is merely necessary to strike the release member 54 from any direction to release the tension between the rolls. Should the operator be in a position to strike downwardly upon the member 54, the relief of tension will take place. Should the operator in an excited moment, simplystrike at the release member 54, irrespective of the position of the operator or the manner of striking the manual release member, whether it be in a lateral or verticalposition, instant release of the tension will take place.

It might also be noted, as far as this wringer is concerned, that one end of the frame is entirely detachable from the upright I! while the opposite end and the end carrying the safety release mechanism is carried in a removable relationship with respect to the frame, but not in an entirely detachable manner by virtue of the slotted relationship and connection of the hangers 32 and 33 with the inwardly projecting lugs 35 formed on the sides of the upright What we claim is:

1. A wringer mechanism including in combination a lowerframe, upper and lower wringer rolls disposed therein, a top bar, means carried by the top bar for applying pressure between the rolls, means for detachably connecting the top barto the lower frame and a safety release mechanism including a pivoted retaining member on the lower frame, a manually operated retaining member carried by the top bar and cooperating with the first mentioned retaining member, said manually operated retaining member being mounted for movement about a plurality of axes to permit release of the pressure between the rolls when the manually engageable portion thereof is moved downwardly or sidewise.

.2. A wringer mechanism including in combination, a lower frame, an upper frame, upper and lower wringer rolls, means for applying pressure between the rolls, and safety release mechanism for relieving the pressure between the rolls, said mechanism comprising cooperating retaining members upon the lower and upper frame members, one of said retaining, members being manually operated and being mounted'for movement for about plural axes to permit instant release of said pressure when the manually engageable portion of said last mentioned retaining member is moved downwardly or sidewise.

3. A wringer mechanism including in combination a lower wringer frame, a detachable top bar. wringer rolls carried by said frame, pressure ap- -plying means, a latch mechanism for maintaining the top bar and lower wringer frame in normal operative engagement, said latch mechanism including a manually operated latch member and a mounting for said latch member permitting movement of said manually operated latch'memher in a vertical or lateral manner to accomplish the relief of pressure by detachment of the top bar from the lower wringer frame. 7

4. A wringer mechanism including in combination a lower wringer frame, wringer rolls carried thereby, a detachable top bar, spring pressure means in said top bar, and latch mechanism for holding the top bar and lower wringer frame in a normal operative position with pressure between the wringer rolls, said mechanism including co-operating latch-members upon the lower frame and top bar and a mounting for one of said latch members permitting movement of the latch in either a vertical or lateral direction to accomplish detachment of the top bar from the lower frame.

5. A wringer mechanism including in combination a lower wringer frame, wringer rolls carried thereby, a top bar, pressure means for the wringer rolls, means for releasably associating the top bar with the lower frame including a retaining member pivoted to the lower frame, a second manually operated retaining member carried by the top bar and co-operating with said first mentioned retaining member to hold the top bar and lower wringer frame in a normally fixed position and a rollermember carriedby the top bar and co-operating with said first mentioned retaining member to assist in the releasing pressure on the rolls; a release handle having downward and sidewise release movements; and means responsive to said movements of the handle actuating the release device.

'7. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a top bar having a hinge engagement at one end; pressure mechanism operating from the top bar on the rolls; a safety release device comprising a release mechanism for the end of the top bar opposite. the

' hinge; a release handle having vertical and sidewise release movements; and means responsive to said movements of the handle actuating the release device. a

8. In a. wringer, the combination of a lower frame, an upper frame, roll wringing means mounted in the frame, pressure mechanism for the roll wringer means reacting against the upper frame, and safety mechanism for releasably attaching the upper frame .on the lower frame, said safety mechanism including a latch member pivoted on one of said frames and having a cam face engaging a part associated with the other frame, holding the frames in normal operating position but biased into a release position by the said pressure mechanism, and a second latch member movably attached to said other frame to engage the first latch to resist the biasing of the first latch into said release position.

9. In a wringer, the combination of a lower frame, an upper frame, roll wringing means mounted in the frame, pressure mechanism for the roll wringer means reacting against the upper frame, and safety mechanism for releasably attaching the upper frame on the lower frame, said safety mechanism including a latch member pivoted on said lower frame and having a cam face engaging a part associated with the upper frame holding the frames in normal operating position but biased into a release position by the said pressure mechanism, and a second latch member movably attached to the upper frame to engage the first latch to resist the biasing of the first latch into said release position.

10. In a wringer, a frame structure having, in combination, a lower frame member, an upper frame member movable upwardly with respect to and above the lower frame member, roll wringer means mounted in the frame structure, pressure mechanism for the roll wringer means reacting between the frame members, and safety mechanism for releasably securing the upper and lower frame members together, said safety mechanism comprising a retaining member mounted on and movable with respect to one of said frame members and having a portion engaging a part associated with the other frame member for holding the frame members together in normal operating position against the reaction of said pressure mechanism, the engagement of said retaining member with said part being offset with respect to a position wherein said retaining member and part would look said frames together, whereby the engagement of said retaining member and part is unstable as against the reaction of said pressure mechanism, and a second retaining member movably attached to the other of said frame members for engaging the first retaining member releasably to secure the first retaining member in holding position to lock said frames together.

11. In a wringer, aframe structure having, in combination, a lower framemember, anupper frame member movable upwardly with respect to and above the lower frame member, roll wringer means mounted in the frame structure, and safety mechanism for releasably securing the upper and lower frame members together, said safety mechanism comprising a retaining member mounted on and movable with respect to one of said frame members for holding the frame members together in normal operating position, means for constantly urging said retaining member away from a position where said memhe: would look said frame members together and for-reacting between the rolls and the upper frame member, whereby said retaining member is unstably mounted with respect to a holding position, and a second retaining member movably'attached to the other frame member for engaging the first retaining member releasably to secure the latter in holding position, whereby.

upon movement of the second retaining member to release the first retaining member and permit separation of the frame members by said means reacting between the rolls and the upper frame member, the retaining members are free to move with the respective frame members.

'12. In -a wringer, the combination of a lower frame comprising a base and spaced upwardly projecting end members terminating in free upper ends, a unitary, horizontally disposed top frame mounted at its ends upon and above the free ends of said end members and bridging the space therebetween and releasably secured at one of its ends to one of said end members, wringer rolls mounted in the lower frame, and safety mechanism for releasing said one end of the top frame for movement away from and above said one of the end members, said safety mechanism comprising a retaining member movably mounted at said one end of one of said frames for holding the top frame on the lower frame in normal operating position, means reacting against the top frame for applying pressure between the wringer rolls and for constant- 1y urging said retaining member away from a the lower frame under the influence of said means reacting against the top frame.

13. In a wringer, a frame structure having in combination, a lower frame member, an upper frame member movable upwardly with respect to and above the lower frame member, wringer rolls mounted in the frame structure; a retaining member mounted on and movable with respect to one of said frame members for holding the frame members together in normal operating position, mechanism including spring means for applying pressure to the rolls and for constantly urging said retaining member away from a position where said member would lock said framed members together, whereby said retaining member is unstably mounted with respect to a holding position, and a second retaining member movably attached to the other frame member for engaging the first retaining member releasably to secure the latter in holding position, whereby upon movement of the second retaining member to release the first retaining member and efiect separation of the frame members by said mechawith the respective frames. 

